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When Apple was awarded $1 billion against Samsung over patent infringement charges, many had thought that this may mark the end of the legal battle between the two and establish Apple as the winner. However, that was not to be. A US District Judge has now cut down the $1 billion verdict by $450 million.

The original $1 billion verdict was agreed upon by a jury and as soon as it was announced, many had cited that it was grossly unfair to Samsung. Yet others cited that such a win for Apple, aided by the implicit support from the US authorities, tends to be anti-competition for the mobile market at large.

It was quite clear at the time of the verdict that both Samsung and Apple were going to appeal against it, with Samsung seeking to have the verdict disrupted while Apple trying to prove that it deserves more than $1 billion.

For now, Apple’s hopes of securing $1 billion or more seem to be dwindling. US District Judge, Lucy Koh, has ruled that the $1 billion award made by the jury was simply the result of ‘an impermissible legal theory.’ She further ruled that the original award must be cut down by $450 million. In other words, Apple is left with $598.9 million from the patent lawsuit.

Judge Lucy Koh also stated that such Samsung devices which didn’t infringe Apple patents and were still made a part of the $1 billion verdict, must be dealt with in a new trial. Naturally, this means that the case is going to drag on yet for a long while.

Courtesy: 9to5mac

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